Printing apparatus, printing method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A printing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store print data including a password upon receipt of the print data, a receiving unit configured to receive a print instruction for the stored print data from a user, an authentication unit capable of performing user authentication, and a printing unit configured to perform printing without causing an authenticated user to enter a password in a case where an owner of the print-instructed print data matches the authenticated user, and to perform printing in response to a match between a password received from a user and the password included in the print data in a case where the owner of the print-instructed print data differs from the authenticated user, or in a case where a print instruction is received without user authentication by the authentication unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing printdata received from an external device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A reservation printing system has recently become widespread. Thereservation printing system enables print data transmitted from apersonal computer (PC) to be reserved in a printer or a print server. Inthe reservation printing system, the print data is stored in a hard diskof the printer or a server on a network, and the printer starts printingthe print data in response to a specific operation performed in front ofthe printer by a user. The reservation printing system is used, forexample, in a case where the printer is a shared printer connected to anetwork, and a printed product to be output needs to be prevented frombeing viewed by others.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-264865 discusses a printerreceiving and temporarily storing print data to which identificationinformation is added. This printer starts printing if the identificationinformation added to the print data matches identification informationentered from a front panel of the printer.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-182187discusses an image recording apparatus which permits printing of only aprint job of an authenticated user. This image recording apparatusaccumulates print jobs and user information upon receipt of a print jobdesignated for confidential printing. Then, the image recordingapparatus performs user authentication to print only the print job ofthe authenticated user.

Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-223610discusses a printing system including a printer. The printer receivesprint data corresponding to an authenticated user from a print server,and prints the received print data. The printing system enables such aprinter to delete password information from the print data to print theprint data.

However, the above reservation printing has the following problems in acase where user authentication is validated, and the printer printsprint data requiring entry of identification information by a user forperforming the printing. That is, although the user is alreadyauthenticated, the user needs to enter the identification informationfor performing the printing. This complicates user operation.

Moreover, in a case where user authentication is required for theprinting, an unauthenticated user cannot even instruct the printer toprint reserved print data. This severely impairs usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a printing apparatus capable ofselectively executing reservation printing either after userauthentication is performed or after a password is entered by a user.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatusincludes a reception unit configured to receive print data including apassword, a storage unit configured to store the print data received bythe reception unit, a receiving unit configured to receive a printinstruction for the print data stored in the storage unit from a user,an authentication unit capable of performing user authentication, and aprinting unit configured to perform printing without causing anauthenticated user to enter the password in a case where an owner of theprint-instructed print data matches the user authenticated by theauthentication unit, and to print the print data in response to a matchbetween a password received from the user and the password included inthe print data stored in the storage unit in a case where the owner ofthe print-instructed print data differs from the user authenticated bythe authentication unit, or in a case where the print instruction isreceived by the receiving unit without user authentication by theauthentication unit.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of illustrative embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall view illustrating a network system including amultifunction peripheral as an example of a printing apparatus, and a PCas an example of an external device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating print job transmission processingexecuted by the PC.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams each illustrating an example of a settingscreen for a printer driver of the PC.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print job reception processingexecuted by the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a series of operations performed whenthe multifunction peripheral receives a user operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating login processing executed by themultifunction peripheral.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating print processing executed by themultifunction peripheral.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating print cancellation processingexecuted by the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a job list of password-added printjobs.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen used tovalidate a password entry omission setting.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating print cancellation processingaccording to a second illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen used tovalidate a password entry omission setting in the second illustrativeembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen displayedwhen a user logs in to the multifunction peripheral.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various illustrative embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, terms used in the illustrative embodiments are defined. In theillustrative embodiments, a job for printing print data including apassword is referred to as “a password-added print job”. Thepassword-added print job causes printing to begin if a password enteredby a user for the printing matches the password included in the printdata.

In the illustrative embodiments, moreover, a password-added print jobincluding encrypted print target data is referred to as “apassword-added encrypted print job”.

A first illustrative embodiment is described.

FIG. 1 is an overall view illustrating a network system including adigital multifunction peripheral (hereinafter called an MFP) 1000 and apersonal computer (hereinafter called a PC) 2000. In the network systemillustrated in FIG. 1, the MFP 1000 and the PC 2000 are communicablyconnected to each other via a network 101.

The network 101 may be connected to a plurality of MFPs (notillustrated) and other PCs (not illustrated) through a relay device (notillustrated) such as a switching hub and a router. Moreover, the networksystem illustrated in FIG. 1 may be connected to the Internet throughthe router (not illustrated) connected to the network 101.

In the network system illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the MFP 1000 andthe PC 2000 has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address and a host name.In addition, this network system has a unique domain name indicating alocation thereof on the Internet.

In the present illustrative embodiment, the MFP 1000 is described as anexample of a printing apparatus. However, the printing apparatus may bea single function peripheral instead of the MFP 1000 as long as thesingle function peripheral has a function of executing thepassword-added print job.

Moreover, in the present illustrative embodiment, the PC 2000 isdescribed as an example of an external device. However, the externaldevice may be a shared desktop computer, a server computer, and a mobileterminal instead of the PC 2000.

Next, a hardware configuration of the MFP 1000 is described.

A control unit 200 connects a scanner 201 serving as an image inputdevice with a printer 202 serving as an image output device. The controlunit 200 is connected to the network 101 and a public line 204, so thatinformation is input and output between the control unit 200 and theexternal device.

A central processing unit (CPU) 205 is a processor for controlling theentire MFP 1000. A random access memory (RAM) 206 serves as a systemwork memory for the CPU 205 to operate. The RAM 206 also serves as amemory for temporarily storing image data, a user name, and a password.A read only memory (ROM) 207 is a boot ROM in which a boot program forthe system is stored. A hard disk drive (HDD) 208 stores systemsoftware, applications, and image data. Moreover, the HDD 208 storesprograms used to execute flowcharts described below in the presentillustrative embodiment. The program stored in the HDD 208 is loaded tothe RAM 206 and executed by the CPU 205.

Each step of the flowchart described in the present illustrativeembodiment is executed by the CPU 205. In each step, the CPU 205executes a control program stored in the HDD 208. Alternatively, eachstep of the flowchart may be executed by a processor other than the CPU205, or by a combination of such a processor and the CPU 205.

An operation unit interface (I/F) 209 interfaces to an operation unit210 including a liquid crystal touch panel. The operation unit I/F 209outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 210 to theoperation unit 210. Moreover, the operation unit I/F 209 has a functionof notifying the CPU 205 of information entered by a user of this systemusing a keyboard on the operation unit 210. A network I/F 211 isconnected to the network 101 to input and output data. A modem 212 isconnected to the public line 204, and converts a digital signal into ananalog signal. A static random access memory (SRAM) 213 is anon-volatile recording medium operable at high speed. A real time clock(RTC) 214 keeps track of current time even when the control unit 200 isbeing powered off. These devices are arranged on a system bus 215.

An image bus I/F 216, serving as a bus bridge, connects the system bus215 to an image bus 217 for transferring image data at high speed, andperforms data structure conversion. The image bus 217 includes aPeripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394. On the image bus 217, thefollowing devices are arranged.

A raster image processor (RIP) unit 218 rasterizes a page-descriptionlanguage (PDL) code into a bitmap image. A device I/F unit 219 connectsthe scanner 201 and the printer 202 as image input/output devices to thecontrol unit 200. The device I/F unit 219 performssynchronous/asynchronous conversion of the image data. A scanner imageprocessing unit 220 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. Aprinter image processing unit 221 performs operations such as a printercorrection and a resolution conversion with respect to image data to beprinted out. An encryption processing unit 222 encrypts input data. Adecryption processing unit 223 decrypts encrypted data if received data(including print data) is encrypted.

Next, a hardware configuration of the PC 2000 is described. The PC 2000includes a CPU 26, a main memory 27, a disk 21, a PC operation unit 23,a PC communication unit 25, and a PC display unit 24. The CPU 26 is aprocessor for controlling operations of the PC 2000. The CPU 26 loadsprograms stored in the disk 21 to the main memory 27, and executesvarious processing. The disk 21 stores various programs (notillustrated) such as an operating system (OS) and a document creationapplication. Moreover, the disk 21 stores a printer driver program(hereinafter called a printer driver) 22 corresponding to the MFP 1000.

The PC communication unit 25 transmits and receives various informationto and from other devices connected to the network 101. The PC operationunit 23 is, for example, a mouse and a keyboard, and functions as aninput device for receiving an input from a user. The PC display unit 24is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and functions as an outputdevice for outputting the data processed by the CPU 26.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed when the PC 2000transmits a password-added print job to the MFP 1000. Each step of theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 2 is performed by the CPU 26 executing aprogram, the program being loaded from the disk 21 to the main memory27.

In step S2001, the PC 2000 receives a print instruction from a userthrough the PC operation unit 23, so that printing is performed by theMFP 1000. Upon receipt of the print instruction, the CPU 26 activatesthe printer driver 22 corresponding to the MFP 1000, and displays aprint setting screen 0301 illustrated in FIG. 3A on the PC display unit24.

FIG. 3A is an example of a screen displayed in step S2001 by the printerdriver 22. On the print setting screen 0301 illustrated in FIG. 3A, acheck box 0302 is displayed. With the check box 0302, the user setswhether to validate printing of a password-added print job. Moreover, onthe print setting screen 0301, a check box 0303, an OK button 0304, anda cancel button 0305 are displayed. The check box 0303 is used to setwhether to encrypt data.

The user places a check mark in the check box 0302 in a case where theuser wants to add a password to a print job, and to transmit theresultant print job to the MFP 1000. If the check mark is placed in thecheck box 0302, the user can also place a check mark in the check box0303. When the check mark is placed in the check box 0303, the printdata (the print target data) is encrypted, and the encrypted print datais transmitted to the MFP 1000. Herein, a password received from theuser through a screen illustrated in FIG. 3B is used as an encryptionkey.

On the print setting screen 0301, moreover, print settings such as papersize, the number of print copies, and the presence or absence of stampcan be set. The printer driver 22 generates a print job including theseprint settings. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, the printsettings are as follows: printing of the password-added print job isvalid; the printing paper size is A4; the number of print copies is 1;and no stamp is required.

In step S2002, the printer driver 22 accepts the user operationperformed on the print setting screen 0301, and writes the printsettings in a RAM (not illustrated) of the PC 2000. When the CPU 26detects the press of the OK button 0304, the operation proceeds to stepS2003. Herein, the press of the OK button 304 indicates completion ofthe print job setting.

In step S2003, the printer driver 22 determines whether a password-addedprint job needs to be generated based on the setting received in stepS2002.

If the printer driver 22 determines that the password-added print jobneeds to be generated (YES in step S2003), the operation proceeds tostep S2004. In step S2004, the printer driver 22 displays a user nameand job password entry screen 0321 illustrated in FIG. 3B on the PCdisplay unit 24, and receives a user name and a password from the user.On the other hand, if the printer driver 22 determines that thepassword-added print job does not need to be generated (NO in stepS2003), that is, a normal print job needs to be generated, the operationproceeds to step S2008. In the step S2008, the printer driver 22generates the normal print job according to the set print setting, andtransmits the print data and the generated print job to the MFP 1000.

FIG. 3B illustrates the user name and job password entry screen 0321displayed in step S2004. On the screen illustrated in FIG. 3B, the userenters the user name in a user name entry field 0322, and the passwordin a password entry field 0323. The entered user name and password areadded to the print job, and the resultant print job is transmitted tothe MFP 1000.

The user name to be entered in the user name entry field 0322 is a useridentification (ID) (a user identifier) identifying an owner of a printjob. The user name is used afterward to collate the user who has loggedin to the MFP 1000 with the owner of the job (however, the user name isnot used for the collation if user authentication is not executed in theMFP 1000). On the screen illustrated in FIG. 3B, the user name setbeforehand as an initial value in the PC 2000 is entered. However, theuser name may be changed as necessary on the screen illustrated in FIG.3B.

The password to be entered in the password entry field 0323 isinformation required when the MFP 1000 starts printing afterward. Thatis, the print job to which the password is added (the password-addedprint job) is kept on standby in the MFP 1000 while the MFP 1000 isawaiting a password entry. The MFP 1000 starts printing when thepassword (the password entered by the user on the screen illustrated inFIG. 3B) is entered using the operation unit 210. Accordingly, thepassword-added print job can be printed as a printed product by only theperson who knows the password added to the job. This can reduce thelikelihood that a person who does not know the password steals a glanceat the printed product. On the other hand, the user needs to enter thepassword in not only the PC 2000, but also the MFP 1000 for thepassword-added print job. Although this maintains security, the user hasextra labor to enter the password in the MFP 1000. In the presentillustrative embodiment, thus, an entry of the password in the MFP 1000can be omitted if the user is already authenticated before logging in tothe MFP 1000. Such omission of password entry will be described indetail below. In the present illustrative embodiment, the user entersthe password using the screen illustrated in FIG. 3B. However, theprinter driver 22 may generate a unique password for a job. In such acase, the password generated by the printer driver 22 is displayed andnotified to the user. Moreover, the printer driver 22 may request theMFP 1000 to generate a password. In such a case, the printer driver 22receives the password generated by the MFP 1000, and notifies the userof the received password.

The description returns to FIG. 2. In step S2004, the printer driver 22receives the user name and the password entered through the PC operationunit 23 by the user. The user name and the password received in stepS2004 are those entered into the user name entry field 0322 and thepassword entry field 0323 (see FIG. 3B) displayed on the PC display unit24. When the PC operation unit 23 receives a press of an OK button 0324indicating that the password-added print job setting is completed, theoperation proceeds to step S2005.

In step S2005, the printer driver 22 determines whether the print targetdata needs to be encrypted based on the encryption setting received instep S2002. If the printer driver 22 determines that the print targetdata needs to be encrypted (YES in step S2005), the operation proceedsto step S2007. If the printer driver 22 determines that the print targetdata does not need to be encrypted (NO in step S2005), the operationproceeds to step S2006.

In step S2006, the printer driver 22 generates a password-added printjob including the print target data (print data), the user name, and thepassword, and transmits the generated print job to the MFP 1000. Theprint job also includes a domain name of the PC 2000 and otherinformation. The user name is used to collate the user who has logged into the MFP 1000 with the owner of the job, whereas the password is usedwhen the MFP 1000 starts printing.

In step S2007, the printer driver 22 encrypts the print data with thepassword received in the step S2004 as an encryption key. Herein, theprinter driver 22 uses an algorithm such as Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)256 as an encryption method using the password. The printer driver 22transmits a print job (a password-added encrypted print job) includingan encryption flag indicating that the print data is encrypted, theencrypted print data, the user name, and the password to the MFP 1000.

In step S2008, the printer driver 22 generates a print job including theprint data, the user name, and the password as a password-added printjob, and transmits the generated print job to the MFP 1000.

According to the processing illustrated in FIG. 2, therefore, the printjob is transmitted from the printer driver 22 of the PC 2000 to the MFP1000.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed when the MFP1000 receives a print job. Each step illustrated in FIG. 4 is performedby the CPU 205 executing a program, the program being loaded from theHDD 208 to the RAM 206. The processing illustrated in FIG. 4 begins whenthe MFP 1000 receives the print job from the PC 2000 (or other externaldevice).

In step S4001, the CPU 205 receives the print job transmitted from thePC 2000 through the network I/F 211. Then, the CPU 205 extracts printdata and a print setting from the received print job.

In step S4002, the CPU 205 determines whether the received print job isa password-added print job based on the print setting extracted in stepS4001. Particularly, the CPU 205 checks whether the password-added printjob includes a job password. If the password-added print job includesthe job password, the CPU 205 determines that the received job is thepassword-added print job (YES in step S4002), and the operation proceedsto step S4003. On the other hand, if the CPU 205 determines that thereceived job is not the password-added print job (NO in step S4002), theoperation proceeds to step S4004.

In step S4003, the CPU 205 outputs the received print data to the RIPunit 218. Then, the CPU 205 causes the bitmap image data rasterized bythe RIP unit 218 to be linked with a password entry wait state, andstores the resultant data in the HDD 208. The bitmap image data storedin step S4003 is not output to the printer 202 until the job passwordand the entered password are collated upon entry of the password throughthe operation unit 210. That is, the received password-added print jobis reserved, instead of being printed in this step. In step S4003,moreover, the domain name, the user name, and the job password in theprint settings are managed by being linked with the bitmap image data.

If the CPU 205 determines that the received job is not thepassword-added print job (NO in step S4002), that is, the received datais a normal print job, the operation proceeds to step S4004. In stepS4004, the CPU 205 outputs the received print data to the RIP unit 218,and then outputs the bitmap image data rasterized by the RIP unit 218 tothe printer 202. Accordingly, the printer 202 prints an image on a sheetbased on the output bitmap image data.

A series of these operations are performed when the MFP 1000 receivesthe print job.

The present illustrative embodiment has been described using an examplecase where a print job to which a password is not added (a normal printjob) is printed without being reserved. However, the MFP 1000 may be setin a forced reservation mode. In such a case, print data is reserved bythe processing as step S4003 even if a password is not added to theprint job.

In step S4003, in practice, the CPU 205 checks whether the receivedprint job includes an encryption flag, and determines whether the printdata included in the print job is encrypted, although such an operationis not described in FIG. 4. If the CPU 205 determines that theencryption flag is included, this implies that the print data in theprint job is encrypted. Accordingly, this print data cannot berasterized into a bitmap image unless the print data is decrypted with apassword. Thus, the CPU 205 stores the encrypted print data in the HDD208 as it is.

On the other hand, if there is no encryption flag in the print job, thisimplies that the print data in the print job is a plain text.Consequently, the CPU 205 transfers the plain text print data to the RIPunit 218 to rasterize the print data into a bitmap image. Then, the CPU205 stores the bitmap image in the HDD 208. Accordingly, in a case wherethe print data is not encrypted, the print data is rasterized into abitmap image upon receipt of the password-added print job. This canshorten a period of time from when the user goes to a position in frontof the MFP 1000 to provide a print instruction to when a printed productis ejected.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations performed when the MFP1000 executes or cancels printing of a password-added print job. Assimilar to FIG. 4, each step illustrated in FIG. 5 is performed by theCPU 205 executing a program, the program being loaded from the HDD 208to the RAM 206.

In step S5001, the CPU 205 acquires a setting value of the MFP 1000 fromthe SRAM 213, and determines whether user authentication is needed basedon the acquired setting value. Assume that a setting for determining thenecessity of the user authentication is registered beforehand in the MFP1000 by a system administrator. In addition, authentication information(a user ID, a password) of each user is registered beforehand in the MFP1000 or an authentication server (not illustrated) on the network by thesystem administrator. Such authentication information is used when theuser authentication is performed.

If the CPU 205 determines that the user authentication is needed (YES instep S5001), then in step S5002, the CPU 205 executes login processing.The login processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG.6. When the user logs in to the MFP 1000 by the login processing,information of the login user is written in the RAM 206. Subsequently,the operation proceeds to step S5003. On the other hand, if the CPU 205determines that the user authentication is not needed (NO in stepS5001), the operation proceeds to step S5003 without the loginprocessing in step S5002.

In step S5003, the CPU 205 acquires the setting value of the MFP 1000from the SRAM 213, and determines whether the user authentication isalready performed by the MFP 1000. Herein, the CPU 205 makes adetermination by referring to the setting value used in the processingin step S5001. That is, if the setting value acquired in step S5001 fromthe SRAM 213 indicates that the user authentication is needed, the userauthentication is already performed in step S5002. Consequently, the CPU205 determines that the user authentication is already performed (YES instep S5003). On the other hand, if the setting value acquired in stepS5001 from the SRAM 213 indicates that the user authentication is notneeded, the CPU 205 determines that the user authentication is notperformed (NO in step S5003).

In step S5004, the CPU 205 checks a display condition of a job list. Forexample, the CPU 205 acquires a filtering setting for the job list fromthe SRAM 213. Based on the filtering setting, the CPU 205 determineswhether to display all the print jobs or only a print job owned by thelogin user. The filtering setting represents a setting for determining aprint range and a cancellation range of the job on a print job list 9002illustrated in FIG. 9. If the filtering setting is valid, only the printjob of the login user is displayed on the print job list 9002. In such acase, the login user is able to start the printing of only his/her ownpassword-added print jobs. On the other hand, if the filtering settingis invalid, all the print jobs reserved in a password entry wait statein the HDD 208 are displayed on the print job list 9002. In such a case,the login user is able to start the printing of not only his/her ownprint jobs, but also the print jobs input to the MFP 1000 by others. Inthe present illustrative embodiment, that is, a user different from theuser who inputs a job can log in to the MFP 1000 and receive a printedproduct of such a job (however, since the printing of the print job isrestricted by a password, the user receiving the print job needs to knowthe password).

Alternatively, in step S5004, the CPU 205 may check authority of thelogin user, and determine whether this login user has an administratorauthority. If the login user has the administrator authority, the printjobs of all the users may be displayed. If the login user does not havethe administrator authority, only the job of the login user may bedisplayed.

In step S5005, the CPU 205 acquires a user name of the login user fromthe RAM 206, and a user name (user ID) of the print job being managed ina password entry wait state. When the login processing is completed, alogin context including the user name identifying the login user iswritten in the RAM 206. Such login processing will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 6. The CPU 205 identifies the login user based onthis login context written in the RAM 206. Accordingly, in step S5005,the CPU 205 displays, on the operation unit 210, a job list of thepassword-added print jobs which include the user name corresponding tothe user name of the login user.

In step S5006, the CPU 205 displays, on the operation unit 210, a listof all the password-added print jobs stored in a password entry waitstate in the HDD 208 of the MFP 1000.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example screen of the job list displayed in stepS5005 or step S5006. The print job list 9002 is a list of thepassword-added print jobs stored in the MFP 1000. In a case where a listof the print jobs is displayed in step S5005, however, only the printjob owned by the login user is displayed.

A print button 9003 is used to instruct the MFP 1000 to start printing aselected print job. A cancel button 9004 is used to cancel the printingof the selected print job.

Moreover, the print job list 9002 indicates the presence or absence ofprint job selection, a reception number, time at which a print job isreceived, a print job name, a user name of the user who inputs the printjob (i.e., an owner of the print job), and job status.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, there are five password-addedprint jobs in the print job list 9002. Among these five print jobs, thepassword-added print job with a reception number 0001 is being selected.In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, four unencrypted password-addedprint jobs with reception numbers 0001 through 0004, and one encryptedpassword-added print job with a reception number 0005 are displayed. Anencryption icon 9006 indicates the presence of the encrypted print job.

A job type shown in the print job list 9002 is a password-added printjob only. However, a normal print job can also be displayed on thisscreen.

In step S5007, the CPU 205 receives selection of an operation targetprint job by the user. The user selects the operation target print jobfrom the print job list 9002 displayed in step S5005 or S5006. When theuser selects the operation target print job, a check mark is placed in aselection check box 9005 which corresponds to the selected job. Thiscauses the target print job to be in the selected state. When a state ofat least one job among the jobs listed in the print job list 9002 ischanged to the selected state, the cancel button 9004 and the printbutton 9003 become operable. In step S5007, the CPU 205 further receivesan operation of the cancel button 9004 or the print button 9003 from theuser through the operation unit 210. For example, if the user needs toprint the selected print job, the user presses the print button 9003 toprovide a print instruction. On the other hand, if the user needs tocancel the printing of the print job, the user presses the cancel button9004. In step S5007, the CPU 205 determines whether the receivedinstruction is a print instruction or a cancellation instruction. If thereceived instruction is the print instruction (PRINT in step S5007), theoperation proceeds to step S5008 in which print processing illustratedin FIG. 7 is executed. On the other hand, if the received instruction isthe cancellation instruction (CANCEL in step S5007), the operationproceeds to step S5009 in which cancellation processing illustrated inFIG. 8 is executed.

The overall operations performed when the user logs in to the MFP 1000and uses the reservation printing function have been described.

Next, the login processing performed when the user logs in to the MFP1000 in step S5002, the print processing of the password-added print jobin step S5008, and the print cancellation processing in S5009 of theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 5 are described in detail with referenceto FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart illustrating the login processingexecuted in step S5002 illustrated in FIG. 5.

In step S6001, the CPU 205 displays a login screen on the operation unit210.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the login screendisplayed in step S6001. This example screen is displayed when the userlogs in to the MFP 1000 according to a keyboard authentication method.On the login screen, a message, a user name entry field 1301, a passwordentry field 1302, a login button 1303, and a guest login button 1304 aredisplayed.

The user may log in to the MFP 1000 as a login user. In such a case, theuser enters a user name and a password in the user name entry field 1301and the password entry field 1302, respectively. Then, the user pressesthe login button 1303. On the other hand, the user may log in to the MFP1000 as a guest user. In such a case, the guest user presses the guestlogin button 1304 without entering a user name nor a password.Alternatively, a simple character string such as “guest” may be enteredas authentication information if the guest user logs in to the MFP 1000.

In step S6002, the CPU 205 checks whether the login button 1303 ispressed or the guest login button 1304 is pressed to determine whetherthe user logs in to the MFP 1000 as a login user or a guest user. If theCPU 205 determines that the user logs in to the MFP 1000 as the guestuser (YES in step S6002), the operation proceeds to step S6005. If theCPU 205 determines that the user does not log in to the MFP 1000 as theguest user (NO in step S6002), the operation proceeds to step S6003.

In step S6003, the CPU 205 acquires the authentication informationreceived through the login screen in step S6002. The acquiredauthentication information is written into the RAM 206 through theoperation unit I/F 209.

In step S6004, the CPU 205 performs user authentication based on theauthentication information acquired in step S6002. The userauthentication can be performed by the MFP 1000 or an externalauthentication server on the network such as an active directory and alightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) server. If the MFP 1000performs the user authentication, the MFP 1000 collates the entered username and password with an authentication database stored in the HDD 208.If the external authentication server performs the user authentication,the CPU 205 issues an authentication request including the acquiredauthentication information to the external authentication server, andreceives an authentication result from the authentication server. Theresult indicates whether the user authentication is successful.

The user authentication may be performed by using other authenticationmethods such as fingerprint authentication, face authentication, anduser authentication using an integrated circuit (IC) card.

If the CPU 205 determines that the user authentication is successful(YES in step S6004), then in step S6005, the CPU 205 permits the user tolog in to the MFP 1000, and stores the login context including the username acquired in step S6003 in the RAM 206. Then, the processing ends.The login context includes information such as login time and expirationdate in addition to the user name. If the user logs in to the MFP 1000as a guest user, the CPU 205 stores information indicating the guestuser in the RAM 206.

If the CPU 205 determines that the user authentication is not successful(NO in step S6004), the CPU 205 displays an error message on theoperation unit 210, and does not permit the user to use the MFP 1000.Then, the operation returns to step S6001.

The login processing has been described in detail.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of the presentillustrative embodiment. This flowchart corresponds to the printprocessing in step S5008 illustrated in FIG. 5.

In step S7001, the CPU 205 acquires a password entry omission setting(see FIG. 10) of the MFP 1000 from the SRAM 213, and determines anoperation mode of the MFP 1000. Particularly, if the password entryomission setting acquired from the SRAM 213 is valid (YES in stepS7001), the CPU 205 determines that the MFP 1000 is being operated in amode in which the user can omit an entry of a password (hereinaftercalled “a password entry omitted mode”). Then, the operation proceeds tostep S7002. On the other hand, if the setting value acquired from theSRAM 213 is invalid (NO in step S7001), the CPU 205 determines that theMFP 1000 is being operated in a mode in which the user is required toenter a password (hereinafter called “a password entry required mode”).Then, the operation proceeds to step S7008.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen 10001 used to set thepassword entry omission setting. This setting screen 10001 is displayedon the operation unit 210 by the CPU 205. When the system administratorselects a valid button 10002 or an invalid button 10003 on the settingscreen 10001, and presses an OK button 10004, the CPU 205 writes asetting value indicating whether to validate or invalidate the passwordentry in the SRAM 213.

In step S7002, the CPU 205 acquires, from the HDD 208, an encryptionflag of the password-added print job having been instructed to beprinted. In step S7003, the CPU 205 determines whether the encryptionflag of the print-instructed password-added print job is valid (i.e.,the print data is encrypted).

If the CPU 205 determines that the print data is encrypted (YES in stepS7003), the print data cannot be decrypted without the password beingreceived from the user even when the MFP 1000 is being operated in thepassword entry omitted mode. Accordingly, the operation proceeds to stepS7008. In step S7008, the CPU 205 displays the password entry screen toreceive the password from the user. On the other hand, if the print datais not encrypted (NO in step S7003), the operation proceeds to stepS7004.

In step S7004, the CPU 205 acquires the setting value of the MFP 1000from the SRAM 213, and determines whether the user authentication isalready performed. Herein, the CPU 205 makes a determination byreferring to the setting value used in the processing in step S5001illustrated in FIG. 5. That is, if the setting value acquired from theSRAM 213 indicates that the user authentication is needed, the userauthentication is already performed in step S5002. Consequently, the CPU205 determines that the user authentication is already performed (YES instep S7004). Then, the operation proceeds to step S7005. On the otherhand, if the setting value acquired from the SRAM 213 indicates that theuser authentication is not needed, the CPU 205 determines that the userauthentication is not performed (NO in step S7004). Then, the operationproceeds to step S7008.

In step S7005, the CPU 205 acquires the login context stored in the RAM206, and checks an authority of the login user.

In the present illustrative embodiment, there are three authorities aslogin user authorities: administrator, general user, and guest userauthorities. However, these authorities are mere examples. Theseauthorities are registered beforehand by a user authenticationmanagement application of the MFP 1000.

The user having the administrator authority can operate anadministrative setting of the MFP 1000. In the present illustrativeembodiment, only the user having the administrator authority can set thepassword entry omission setting, and the setting for whether to performthe user authentication. The user having the general user authority canoperate items other than the administrative setting, and variousfunctions of the MFP 1000. The guest user can operate a limited numberof items in the functions and settings provided by the MFP 1000. Thenumber of items operable by the guest user is less than that by thegeneral user, and the items operable by the guest user have thefollowing features. That is, if a user logs in to the MFP 1000 as aguest user, the user is treated as just a guest by the MFP 1000 nomatter who the user is. Thus, even if the user having the guest userauthority logs in to the MFP 1000, the MFP 1000 cannot identify anindividual.

The description returns to FIG. 7. If the CPU 205 determines that thelogin user has the guest user authority (YES in step S7005), theoperation proceeds to step S7008. If the CPU 205 determines that thelogin user has the other authority (i.e., the administrator authority orthe general user authority) (NO in step S7005), the operation proceedsto step S7006.

In step S7006, the CPU 205 checks whether the user name of the print jobselected in step S5007 matches the user name of the login user, anddetermines whether the print-instructed print job belongs to the loginuser. If the user name of the print job does not match the user name ofthe login user (NO in step S7006), the operation proceeds to step S7008.In step 7008, the CPU 205 displays a password entry screen (notillustrated) on the operation unit 210 to receive the password from theuser.

If the user name of the print job matches the user name of the loginuser (YES in step S7006), then in step S7007, the MFP 1000 prints theprint job without receiving the password from the user. That is, if thepassword entry omission setting is valid, the MFP 1000 can execute theprinting without receiving the password as long as the password-addedprint job belongs to the login user (i.e., the owner of the print job isthe login user). This can save the login user the labor of passwordentry when his/her own password-added print job is printed.

In the above processing, if the password entry omission setting isvalid, and the login user is a guest user, the MFP 1000 always requeststhe user to enter the password when the printing is performed. Since theMFP 1000 cannot identify an individual guest user, the MFP 1000 cannotdetermine the print job of the guest user among password-added printjobs. Consequently, upon receipt of a print instruction for thepassword-added print job from the guest user, the MFP 1000 alwaysrequests the user to enter the password even if the password entryomission setting is valid.

In step S7009, the CPU 205 compares the password received from the userthrough the operation unit 210 with the password for the password-addedprint job, and determines whether these passwords match each other. Ifthese passwords match each other (YES in step S7009), the operationproceeds to step S7010.

If the CPU 205 determines that these passwords do not match each other(NO in step S7009), then in step S7011, the CPU 205 displays an errorscreen on the operation unit 210. Herein, the error screen indicatesthat the password received from the user does not match the password forthe password-added print job.

In step S7010, the CPU 205 acquires the encryption flag of thepassword-added print job, and determines whether the print-instructedjob is a password-added encrypted print job. If the print-instructed jobis not a password-added encrypted print job (NO in step S7010), then instep S7007, the MFP 1000 prints the password-added print job.

If the print-instructed job is the password-added encrypted print job(YES in step S7010), the operation proceeds to step S7012. In stepS7012, the CPU 205 decrypts the encrypted print data with the passwordreceived in step S7008, and outputs the decrypted print data to the RIPunit 218. The RIP unit 218 rasterizes the decrypted print data into abitmap image. Subsequently, in step S7007, the printer 202 of the MFP1000 prints an image on a printing sheet based on the bitmap image dataoutput from the RIP unit 218.

The operation of the printing processing has been described withreference to FIG. 7. According to the present illustrative embodiment,even if the user cannot omit an entry of the password for thepassword-added print job, the printing of the password-added print jobcan be executed by entering the password in a conventional manner. Thisprocessing enables the user to instruct the MFP 1000 to print even apassword-added print job of another user by entering a password in acase where the password entry omission function is valid and the joblist filtering setting is invalid in the MFP 1000. Therefore, usabilityof the MFP 1000 can be enhanced.

Next, cancellation processing of the password-added print job isdescribed with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8.

The flowchart of FIG. 8 illustrates the cancellation processing of stepS5009 illustrated in FIG. 5.

In step S8001, the CPU 205 acquires a setting of the MFP 1000 from theSRAM 213, and determines whether the user authentication is alreadyperformed. If the user authentication is not yet performed (NO in stepS8001), then in step S8004, the CPU 205 deletes data of thecancellation-instructed password-added print job from the HDD 208. Ifthe user authentication is already performed (YES in step S8001), thenin step S8002, the CPU 205 acquires the user name of thecancellation-instructed password-added print job and the user name ofthe login user.

Subsequently, in step S8003, the CPU 205 determines whether the username of the cancellation-instructed password-added print job matches theuser name of the login user. If the user name of thecancellation-instructed password-added print jobs matches the user nameof the login user (YES in step S8003), then in step S8004, the CPU 205deletes data of the cancellation-instructed password-added print jobfrom the HDD 208. Then, the operation proceeds to step S8005.

In step S8005, the CPU 205 deletes the cancellation-selectedpassword-added print job from the print job list 9002 displayed on theoperation unit 210. Then, the print job cancellation processingillustrated in FIG. 8 ends.

If the user name of the cancellation-instructed password-added printjobs does not match the user name of the login user (NO in step S8003),the CPU 205 displays an error screen on the operation unit 210. Theerror screen indicates that execution of the selected print job cannotbe cancelled. Then, the print job cancellation processing illustrated inFIG. 8 ends.

The first illustrative embodiment has been described. According to thefirst illustrative embodiment, in a case where the login user instructsthe MFP 1000 to print the password-added print job, the CPU 205 controlsthe MFP 1000 such that the printing can be started without an entry ofthe password included in the print job.

According to the first illustrative embodiment, moreover, the CPU 205controls the MFP 1000 such that a non-login user can instruct the MFP1000 to print a reserved print job (however, in a case where thenon-login user provides a job execution instruction, the CPU 205controls the MFP 1000 such that the printing can be started afterpassword entry is requested to the non-login user). Such control reducesthe labor of the login user in password entry, and enables the MFP 1000to execute the printing by performing user authentication one time atthe time of login of the user. Moreover, the non-login user can enablethe MFP 1000 to start printing the reserved print job on the conditionthat the non-login user enters the password. Therefore, usability of theMFP can be enhanced.

According to the first illustrative embodiment, moreover, in a casewhere the MFP 1000 receives a print instruction without userauthentication, the CPU 205 always requests the password entry. This canmaintain security.

In addition, according to the first illustrative embodiment, the loginuser of the MFP 1000 can enable a password-added print job of anotherperson to be printed (only if the login user knows a password for thisprint job). This can enhance usability of the MFP.

Next, a second illustrative embodiment is described. In the firstillustrative embodiment, the MFP can cancel the password-added print jobof only the login user according to the password-added print jobcancellation processing (see FIG. 8). In the second illustrativeembodiment, the MFP 1000 can cancel a password-added print job of a userother than the login user if a correct password is entered so thatusability is further enhanced. Such a function is referred to as apassword entry function in case of cancellation in the secondillustrative embodiment.

The second illustrative embodiment is described using a case where theMFP 1000 having the password entry function in case of cancellation iscontrolled when the login user provides a cancellation instruction for apassword-added print job of his/her own or another person. In such acase, the cancellation is instructed according to the presence orabsence of user authentication management and a role condition of thelogin user.

The control of the password-added print job cancellation processingexecuted by the MFP 1000 is described in detail by referring to FIGS. 11and 12. In the present illustrative embodiment, a configuration of theMFP 1000, transmission processing of the password-added print job by aprinter driver, login processing by the MFP 1000, print processing ofthe password-added print job, and reception processing of the print jobare similar to those of the first illustrative embodiment, and thus thedescriptions thereof are omitted.

In the processing illustrated in FIG. 11 of the second illustrativeembodiment, there are steps S11006 to S11015 in addition to theprocessing illustrated in FIG. 8 of the first illustrative embodiment.These added steps relate to the control performed when a passwordsetting in case of cancellation is valid. These steps S11006 to 11015are described in detail below. In the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 11of the present illustrative embodiment, processing from steps S11001 toS11005 is similar to that from steps S8001 to S8005 of the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 8 of the first illustrative embodiment. Moreover,reservation printing, login processing, and print processing of thepresent illustrative embodiment are similar to the respective processingin FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 of the first illustrative embodiment.

Now, the second illustrative embodiment is described by referring to thedifferences between the processing of the first illustrative embodimentand that of the second illustrative embodiment.

In step S11006, the CPU 205 acquires the password entry setting in caseof cancellation set for the MFP 1000 from the SRAM 213, and determineswhether the acquired password entry setting in case of cancellation isvalid.

FIG. 12 illustrates a password-added reservation printing functionsetting screen 12001 according to the second illustrative embodiment.This setting screen 12001 is displayed on the operation unit 210. On thesetting screen 12001, a password entry omission setting and a passwordentry setting in case of cancellation can be set. The password entryomission setting in FIG. 12 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 10 ofthe first illustrative embodiment. On the setting screen 12001illustrated in FIG. 12, a setting of a password entry function in caseof cancellation is added to the setting screen illustrated in FIG. 10.This is called “a password entry setting in case of cancellation” in thepresent illustrative embodiment. The password entry setting in case ofcancellation in FIG. 12 is described.

The password entry setting in case of cancellation is set using a validbutton 12006 and an invalid button 12007 on the setting screen 12001.The valid button 12006 is used to validate the password entry setting incase of cancellation, whereas the invalid button 12007 is used toinvalidate the password entry setting in case of cancellation. The userselects the valid button 12006 or the invalid button 12007 through theoperation unit 210. The password entry setting in case of cancellationincludes such selection of the valid button 12006 and the invalid button12007. A change in the password entry setting in case of cancellation isstored in the SRAM 213 by the CPU 205 when a setting button 12004 for apassword-added reservation printing function is selected.

The description returns to the processing illustrated in FIG. 11. If theCPU 205 determines that the password entry setting in case ofcancellation is invalid (NO in step S11006), the operation proceeds tostep S11001. If the CPU 205 determines that the password entry settingin case of cancellation is valid (YES in step S11006), the operationproceeds to step S11007.

In step S11007, the CPU 205 acquires the setting of the MFP 1000 fromthe SRAM 213, and determines whether the MFP 1000 manages the userauthentication. If the CPU 205 determines that the MFP 1000 does notmanage the user authentication (NO in step S11007), the operationproceeds to step S11011. In step S11011, the CPU 205 displays a passwordentry screen on the operation unit 210, and receives an entry of thepassword from the user. Subsequently, the operation proceeds to stepS11012.

In step S11012, the CPU 205 acquires the password from thecancellation-instructed password-added print job. Subsequently, theoperation proceeds to step S11013.

In step S11013, the CPU 205 compares the password entered by the userthrough the operation unit 210 with the acquired password for thepassword-added print job. Then, the operation proceeds to step S11014.

In step S11014, the CPU 205 determines whether the password entered bythe user matches the password for the password-added print job. If thesetwo passwords match each other (YES in step S11014), then in stepS11004, the CPU 205 cancels the cancellation-instructed password-addedprint job. Subsequently, the operation proceeds to step S11005.

If the CPU 205 determines that the password entered by the user does notmatch the password for the password-added print job (NO in step S11014),then in step S11015, the CPU 205 displays an information screen (notillustrated) indicating that these two passwords do not match eachother. Then, the CPU 205 ends the password-added print job cancellationprocessing.

If the CPU 205 determines that the MFP 1000 manages the userauthentication (YES in step S11007), the operation proceeds to stepS11008.

In step S11008, the CPU 205 acquires a role of the login user of the MFP1000, and determines the role of the login user. If the CPU 205determines that the login user is a general user (GENERAL USER in stepS11008), then in step S11009, the CPU 205 acquires user information ofthe cancellation-instructed password-added print job and userinformation of the login user.

Subsequently, in step S11010, the CPU 205 determines whether the userinformation of the cancellation-instructed password-added print jobmatches the user information of the login user. If the CPU 205determines that the user information of the cancellation-instructedpassword-added print job matches the user information of the login user(YES in step S11010), then in step S11004, the CPU 205 cancels thecancellation-instructed password-added print job. Then, the operationproceeds to step S11005.

According to such processing, therefore, if the password entry settingin case of cancellation is valid, and the user authentication isperformed in the MFP 1000, the login user can instruct cancellation ofhis/her own password-added print job without entering the password. Thiscan reduce labor of the login user in authentication performed when thelogin user cancels his/her own password-added print job, the labor beingperformed with respect to the MFP 1000 in which the password entrysetting in case of cancellation is valid.

If the CPU 205 determines that the login user is an administrative user(ADMINISTRATOR in step S11008), then in step S11004, the CPU 205 cancelsthe cancellation-instructed password-added print job. Subsequently, theoperation proceeds to step S11005.

According to such processing, if the login user has an administratorrole with respect to the MFP 1000 in which the password entry setting incase of cancellation is valid, the MFP 1000 cancels the printing of thepassword-added print job without password entry. In such a case, the MFP1000 cancels even the password-added print job which does not belong tothe login user. This is the case in the present illustrative embodiment,since the login user serving as the administrator is expected to deletethe print jobs of others from the MFP 1000 when these print jobs becomeunnecessary from an MFP management standpoint. Thus, the login userserving as the administrator can delete any password-added print job.

If the login user is determined as a guest user (GUEST USER in stepS11008), the operation proceeds to step S11011. In step S11011, the CPU205 displays a password entry screen on the operation unit 210, andreceives the password from the user.

According to such processing, if the login user is the guest user withrespect to the MFP 1000 in which the password entry setting in case ofcancellation is valid, the MFP 1000 always requests the guest user toenter the password in case of cancellation. Since the MFP 1000 cannotidentify an individual guest user, the MFP 1000 cannot determine theprint job of the guest user among password-added print jobs.Consequently, even if the password entry setting in case of cancellationis valid, the MFP 1000 always requests the guest user to enter thepassword. The MFP 1000 makes such a request upon receipt of thecancellation instruction for the password-added print job from the guestuser.

The second illustrative embodiment has been described. According to thesecond illustrative embodiment, authentication work with password entryis reduced with respect to the MFP 1000 in which the password entrysetting in case of cancellation is valid. This can reduce the labor ofthe user when the password-added print job is printed.

In the first illustrative embodiment, the system administratordetermines a password entry omission setting through the screenillustrated in FIG. 10. However, the password entry omission setting maybe automatically determined according to a user authentication setting.For example, if a user authentication setting is invalid, the MFP 1000may be forcibly operated in a password entry required mode by causingthe valid button 10002 on the setting screen 10001 illustrated in FIG.10 to be not selectable (e.g., the valid button 10002 is displayed in ashaded manner). In such a case, the CPU 205 determines whether toperform user authentication by referring to a setting value stored inthe SRAM 213. If the CPU 205 determines that the user authentication isnot needed, the CPU 205 automatically invalidates the password entryomission setting. Accordingly, this can reduce setting work of thesystem administrator.

The user authentication may not always be performed at the time of loginof the user. For example, in a case where an MFP has functions such ascopying, scanning, and printing, the necessity of user authenticationmay be individually set according to the functions (this is called afunction-based authentication). If the MFP can perform suchfunction-based authentication, the user authentication may be performedwhen a printing function is to be used. In such a case, a password entryomission setting may be automatically validated.

In the present illustrative embodiment, the password entry omission isdetermined according to whether the operation target password-addedprint job belongs to the login user. However, the password entryomission may be determined by other methods. For example, the passwordentry omission may be determined according to whether the user is thelogin user having an administrator authority. In such a case, thepassword entry is omitted if the user has the administrator authority,whereas the password entry is requested if the user is a general user ora guest user.

Alternatively, the password entry may be omitted as for users in a group(or a department) to which the login user belongs. For example, the MFPacquires a group ID (a department ID) of the login user and a group IDspecified from a user name included in the operation target print job.If these two IDs match each other, the password entry can be omitted.

In the present illustrative embodiment, when the printing is to beperformed, the user enters the password after selecting a job. However,the user may enter the password before selecting the job. In this case,the MFP can receive the password entered by the user, and specify theprint job including the received password. Subsequently, the MFP canprint the specified print job. That is, the MFP can automaticallyspecify and print a single or a plurality of print jobs having apassword which matches the entered password, so that the user does notneed to select the print job. Moreover, the MFP can automaticallyspecify and print only a print job which belongs to the login user andhas a password matching the entered password.

Moreover, the necessity of user authentication and the validity ofpassword entry omission setting may be selectively determined. Forexample, if the MFP is set to perform the user authentication, apassword entry omission setting may be automatically invalidated. On theother hand, if the MFP is set not to perform the user authentication, apassword entry omission setting may be automatically validated.Moreover, changes in the password entry omission settings and the userauthentication settings may be made according to an instruction from asystem administrator.

In the present illustrative embodiment, the MFP receives a password fromthe user if the login user differs from the owner of the print job, anda print instruction is received without user authentication (both of Noin step S7004 and NO in step S7006 in FIG. 7). However, the presentillustrative embodiment includes an illustrative embodiment in which theMFP receives a password from the user if any one of these two situationsoccurs. In other words, the present illustrative embodiment includes anillustrative embodiment in which the password is received from the useronly if a print instruction is received without the user authentication,and an illustrative embodiment in which the password is received fromthe user only if the login user differs from the owner of the print job.

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toillustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed illustrative embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2013-030898 filed Feb. 20, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer comprising: a selection unit configuredto, in accordance with an authentication user's operation and anon-authentication user's operation, select a print job to which a jobpassword is set, the authentication user having been authenticated whenlogging in to the printer, the non-authentication user having skippedauthentication when logging in to the printer, the job password beingused for starting a print process of the print job; and a control unitconfigured to, in a case where the print job has been selected by theselection unit in accordance with the authentication user's operation,control the printer to start the print process of the print job withoutrequesting the authentication user to input the job password, whereinthe control unit is configured to, in a case where the print job hasbeen selected by the selection unit in accordance with thenon-authentication user's operation, request the non-authentication userto input the job password so as to start the print process of the printjob.
 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a displayunit configured to display a plurality of print jobs so as to cause theselection unit to select a print job from the plurality of print jobs,the plurality of print jobs corresponding to different users, whereinthe control unit is configured to, in a case where the authenticationuser has logged in to the printer, control the display unit to display aprint job corresponding to the authentication user from among theplurality of print jobs, and wherein the control unit is configured to,in a case where the non-authentication user has logged in to theprinter, control the display unit to display all of the plurality ofprint jobs.
 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the controlunit is configured to, in a case where the authentication user has anadministrator authority, control the display unit to display all of theplurality of print jobs, even if the authentication user has logged into the printer.
 4. The printer according to claim 2, further comprisinga setting unit configured to set a display condition for displayingprint jobs, wherein the control unit is configured to control, based onthe display condition set by the setting unit, whether to control thedisplay unit to display all of the plurality of print jobs or controlthe display unit to display a print job corresponding to theauthentication user.
 5. The printer according to claim 4, wherein thecontrol unit is configured to, in a case where a job owner of the printjob selected by the selection unit matches a user who has logged in tothe printer, determine whether or not the selected print job is anencrypted print job for printing data encrypted using the job password,and in a case where it is determined that the selected print job is theencrypted print job, request the user to input the job password even ifthe logged-in user is the authentication user and the print job has beenselected by the selection unit in accordance with the authenticationuser's operation.
 6. The printer according to claim 4, wherein thecontrol unit is configured to, in a case where the control unit requestsinput of the password, determine whether a password input by theauthentication user or the non-authentication user matches the jobpassword, and start the print process of the print job based ondetermination that the input password matches the job password.
 7. Theprinter according to claim 4, wherein the printer is connected to a hostcomputer over a network, and wherein a job owner name of the print jobis a user name of a user who uses the host computer.
 8. The printeraccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to, in acase where a job owner of the print job selected by the selection unitis different from a user who has logged in to the printer, request theuser to input the job password even if the logged-in user is theauthentication user and the print job has been selected by the selectionunit in accordance with the authentication user's operation.
 9. Theprinter according to claim 1, wherein the non-authentication user is aguest user.
 10. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising asetting storage unit configured to store setting information indicatingwhether or not input of the job password is allowed to be skipped,wherein the control unit is configured to, even if the print job hasbeen selected by the selection unit in accordance with theauthentication user's operation, request the authentication user toinput the job password so as to start the print process of the print jobin a case where the setting information indicates that input of the jobpassword is not allowed to be skipped.
 11. The printer according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display a passwordenter screen so as to request input of the job password.
 12. The printeraccording to claim 1, wherein the job password is a password input via ahost computer when a print job is transmitted to the printer.
 13. Amethod comprising: selecting, in accordance with a user's operation, aprint job to which a job password is set, the job password being usedfor starting a print process of the print job; in a case where the printjob has been selected in accordance with an authentication user'soperation, controlling a printer to start the print process of the printjob without requesting the authentication user to input the jobpassword, the authentication user having been authenticated when loggingin to the printer; and in a case where the print job has been selectedin accordance with a non-authentication user's operation, requesting thenon-authentication user to input the job password so as to start theprint process of the print job, the non-authentication user havingskipped authentication when logging in to the printer.
 14. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructionsthat, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or moreprocessors to perform operations comprising: selecting, in accordancewith a user's operation, a print job to which a job password is set, thejob password being used for starting a print process of the print job;in a case where the print job has been selected in accordance with anauthentication user's operation, controlling a printer to start theprint process of the print job without requesting the authenticationuser to input the job password, the authentication user having beenauthenticated when logging in to the printer; and in a case where theprint job has been selected in accordance with a non-authenticationuser's operation, requesting the non-authentication user to input thejob password so as to start the print process of the print job, thenon-authentication user having skipped authentication when logging in tothe printer.